Underwater Habitat
In many situations, a permanent base for operations underwater could
be very useful, for example: for research, underwater “farming”, protection of
sea environment, construction under water taking a long time, etc. Such base –
a Habitat, able to support relatively long term living of workers, who sometimes
need to work on shore, and other times need to work underwater, should be
reliable and comfortable. The Habitat should be close to the shore, but under
weather. Supplying of it should not require use of ships. Ability to move
between a workplace deep underwater and the Habitat should not depend on tides
and storms.
The underwater waterproof
construction – the Building does not need glass windows, unless it is also used
for entertainment. External cameras and hydrophones plus internal screens and
speakers should provide enough information about external environment.
As in a submarine, it should be
possible to shut off different sections of the Building in case of leakage.
The Building needs a few
“transition chambers”, which could be filled with water or emptied, as needed.
These chambers should be used to bring some underwater vehicle into the
building, empty the chamber of water and transfer people and cargo into the
building. They should be used in a reverse order to move people and cargo out
of the Building.
Worker Submarines (see “Working
under Water” on this site), are well suited for use in conjunction with such Building.
They should use “transition chambers” to get in and out of the Building.
A Climbing Elevator
(see “Climbing Elevator” on this site), with some adjustments, should be
sufficient to move people and cargo between this Building and the shore.
The Climbing Elevator
consists of
·
a water proof cabin with “limbs”, which has its own
engine,
·
a sturdy “construction”,
usually made with pipes, with a channel in it, the waterproof cabin of this Elevator
moves grabbing special elements of this “construction” – a “ladder”.
The cabin “climbs” through this
construction.
The shape of this “construction”
depends on the relative location of two endpoints of the Climbing Elevator - the
Building below and the place on shore above, to which the Building is connected
via the Elevator.
Waves, usually, should not be able
to reach the endpoint on shore. The other endpoint in the Building should be
the “transition chamber”.
The
construction could be curved and could have intermediate support elements, attached
to the ground.
The
cabin moves through air and through water, hence it needs to carry fuel and
compressed air for its engine. Supply of compressed air and fuel is done on
shore.
Electric cables in the water are
dangerous. Hence, power for the use in the Building, should be generated on
shore and passed using Hydraulic Transmission to the Building (see “Hydraulic
Transmission” on this site). Generally speaking, the pump on shore should move hydraulic
fluid through Hydraulic Transmission, which ends in the Building underwater. Compensating
machines of such Transmission, as electric generators and compressors, should
be in the Building, where they provide electricity and provide supply of
compressed air, which is often needed underwater.
Fresh Air should be
perpetually pumped into the Building from the shore through the system of pipes.
A similar system should pump out exhaust air. Air compressors should be on
shore.
Similar system should
provide supply of high pressure compressed air for Worker Submarines and
Climbing Elevator, when needed.
Fresh Water should be
supplied through the system of pipes from the shore. This water should be also used
to supply Worker Submarines.
Fuel to supply Worker
Submarines and Climbing Elevator, should be provided through a system of pipes
from the shore.
Garbage should be
compacted and moved on shore in plastic bags, using Climbing Elevator, for
processing or disposal on shore.
Sewage should be
disinfected and pumped using sewage pipes deep into the sea, far from the
Building.
Emergency Evacuation
should be done with Climbing Elevator, Worker Submarines and other equipment
supporting breathing, while under water.
Alexander Liss 5/12/2020